Oregon Coast Camping: Top Campgrounds Along The Oregon Coast

Oregon coast camping is one of the best ways to experience the Beaver State’s charm. Whether you have your heart set on upscale glamping, RV camping, or pitching a tent right on the beach, the Oregon coast has a campsite for you- you only need to do it right.

Start by asking the right questions: when is the best time for camping on the Oregon coast? Are reservations necessary? And, most importantly, what are the best Oregon coast campgrounds for families and adventurers? 

Here’s all you need to know about camping on the beach in Oregon, starting with the basics!

Key Takeaways

• The best time for camping on the Oregon coast state parks for the best weather is summer. 
• Fort Stevens State Park Campground allows street-legal vehicles on the beach (no motorcycles or off-highway vehicles). 
• Cape Lookout, Harris Beach, Fort Stevens, and Beverly Beach are among the best Oregon Coast state campgrounds that offer full RV hookups. 
• Devils Lake Campground is a great place to set camp because it is near the lake, ocean, and Lincoln City.
• Consider Tillicum Beach Campground if you want a camping site with ocean views. 

What to Know Before Your Camping Trip to the Oregon Coast

When to Go

The summer months of June through September take the top prize for camping on the Oregon coast. This is when the weather is most agreeable for various outdoor activities, including beach strolling, swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, and more. 

Summer also marks the harvest season in Oregon, meaning food in the seaside towns tastes like heaven. 

But those clement days also mean that the best Oregon coast campgrounds fill up fast. Smart campers book their trips between late May and early June or late August and early September when the weather is great, and the crowds are few.

If you desire to go whale watching on the Oregon coast, you should plan to visit during winter (mid-Dec to mid-Jan) or spring (mid-Feb to May). Oregon in winter also offers a great time for cold weather sports, particularly skiing and snowboarding.

How Long to Stay

You’ll need at least three days for the best Oregon coast camping experience. You could try to make the most out of a two-day Oregon coast camping trip. But you’ll have to speed things up if you have a long list of boxes to tick off. We suggest 4 to 5 days to explore its jaw-dropping scenery and hiking trails without rushing too much. Check out how to plan a perfect 5-day Oregon trip.

Top Oregon Coast Camping Spots

South Beach State Park Campground 

Camping on the Oregon coast is all about soaking up the serenity of the wind-swept shoreline and all the recreational opportunities it allows. The South Beach State Park Campground is one of the best campgrounds in this regard. 

South Beach State Park is a great campground for all campers, including families. This is thanks to its strategic location in South Newport right next to the mouth of Yaquina Bay. 

There are around 322 campsites at South Beach State Park Campground. They include 225 standard sites with electric and water hookups, 60 tent-only sites, 27 yurt sites, and three tent-only group sites.Hiker/biker sites are available at the campground, too. 

The sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and partial hookups. Group sites have portable toilets. Campers can access potable water, flush toilets, and free shower rooms within the campground. 

Plus, its location puts you close to popular southern Oregon coast camping activities, including swimming, biking, jogging, and sand bathing. Hikers should take advantage of the South Jetty and Copper Ridge Nature Trails. Families with kids should also check out the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and Newport Discovery Zoo. 

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: Hiker/biker sites- $8/person; electric and water sites- $35/night; Tent sites- $24/night; Yurts- $53-$63/night

Harris Beach State Park Campground 

Harris Beach is one of the best Oregon State Parks with camping. Only a quarter mile from the beach, this is another great camping spot for visitors interested in exploring Oregon’s rugged south coast. 

Harris Beach State Park Campground is located approximately two miles north of Brookings town along Highway 101. This is a year-round beachside campground boasting 152 campsites, including 65 full-hookup RV sites, 25 standard sites with water and electricity hookups, and 60 tents-only sites with water nearby. The campground has six rustic yurts and hiker/biker camping sites. 

Amenities at the campground include picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. Campground facilities include restrooms with flush toilets, hot showers, a dump station, and firewood for sale.

Harris Beach State is home to Arch Rock and Goat Island. The latter is the largest island off the Oregon coast and a breeding site for rare birds. The park also offers a variety of outdoor recreation, including hiking, beach strolling, picnicking, biking, and surf fishing.

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: Full hookup sites- $35/night; electric and water sites- $33/night; tents-only sites- $23/night; Yurts $51-$61/night; hiker/biker sites- $8/person

Cape Lookout State Park Campground 

Cape Lookout State Park is another Oregon beach camping ground within earshot of the ocean. It's just an hour and a half west of Portland via the scenic Wilson River Pass, which offers plenty of attractions along the way. 

What we love most about Cape Lookout State Park Campground is its proximity to the shoreline. Here, you can log hours of bountiful beachcombing, conquer miles of cliffside hiking trails with ocean views, and watch whales spouting. 

Cape Lookout State Park Campground has a camping spot for everyone. The campground has 38 full hookup RV sites, 170 tents-only sites, and one standard site with water and electricity hookups. Thirteen yurts (six pet-friendly), six deluxe cabins (3 pet-friendly), a group tent camping area, and a hiker/biker camp are available at the campground. 

All sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and paved parking. The sites have easy access to flush toilets, hot showers, potable water, and firewood. 

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: Tent sites- $21/night; RV sites $$31-$36/night; Group sites- $78/night

Fort Stevens State Park Campground 

Consider this campground if you're interested in camping on the northern Oregon coast. Fort Stevens State Park Campground sits in a former military installation two hours northwest of Portland.

Fort Stevens was used to safeguard the mouth of the Columbia River from the Civil War to WWII. Expectedly, part of what draws campers to this campground includes the abandoned military batteries, barracks, and bunkers. There's also a Military Museum that shouldn't be missed. Other attractions nearby include the Peter Iredale shipwreck, the Jetty Observation Tower, hiking, biking, and guided kayak tours. 

Fort Stevens State Campground has great access to a wide beach stretching over 20 miles. Uniquely, street-legal vehicles are allowed on some parts of this park's beach. Come ready for a beach tailgate party! 

There are over 480 camping sites at Fort Stevens State Campground. These include 302 standard sites with electric and water hookups, 174 full hookup RV sites, six tent sites, and a hiker/biker camp. The campground also offers 11 high-end cabins and 15 yurts. 

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: Standard sites- $35/night; Full hookup sites $38/night; hiker/biker camp $8/person; Yurts $54-$64; deluxe cabin $98-$108/night. 

Sunset Bay State Park Campground 

Sunset Bay State Park Campground is what you have in mind if you're interested in the best camping on the Oregon coast with great sunset views and easy beach access. It's located south of Coos Bay, roughly three miles outside Charleston, via Highway 540. 

The park is popular for its dramatic sea cliffs that shelter its white sand beach from the sometimes rough and choppy waters. The crescent-shaped beach, with its calm waters, offers a great place for swimming, boating, fishing, or beachcombing. Hikers will appreciate the miles of hiking trails that lead to Cape Arago State Park and Shore Acres State Park. 

Sunset Bay State Park has 25 full hookup RV sites, 33 standard sites with water and electricity hookups, 66 tent-only sites, and eight yurts. The campground also has a hiker/biker camp and three ADA sites. There are flush toilets, hot showers, and firewood for sale within the campground. 

Sunset Bay State Park offers some of the best weekend getaways in Oregon. It tends to fill up pretty quickly, especially during the summers. Be sure to reserve your spot early.  

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: Standard sites- $31/night; Full hookup sites $33/night; Tent sites $21/night; Hiker/biker camp $7/person; Yurts $48-$58 

Humbug Mountain State Park Campground 

Humbug Mountain State Park Campground is a beautiful campground on the southern Oregon coast. It's six miles south of Port Oxford along the famous Highway 101. 

What makes this campground particularly popular is its location at the foot of Humbug Mountain. The mountain shelters it from the chilly ocean winds, creating some of the warmest weather conditions along the Oregon coast. 

The wide selection of hiking trails is another major draw to this campground. The 5.6-mile hiking trail to the summit of Humbug Mountain is a must-try. It's a moderately challenging hike, but the sweeping ocean views from the top make it a jewel. The beach is within walking distance and offers great water activities, including scuba diving and windsurfing. 

Humbug Mountain State Park Campground has 95 sites. Fifty-six sites are tents-only, while 36 have water and electricity hookups for RVs and trailers up to 60 feet. There is potable water, flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station within the campground.

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: Standard sites- $29/night; Tent sites $21/night; Hiker/biker camp $7/person

Beverly Beach State Park Campground 

Beach camping on the Oregon coast doesn’t get more real than this. If you are after a campground that takes you mere steps to the Pacific Ocean, this is it. Beverly Beach State Park Campground is one of the best campgrounds the Oregon coast offers in terms of location, scenery, and things to do. 

This campground is located halfway between Newport and Depoe Bay along Highway 101. It’s tucked in a forest, and access to the beach is under the photogenic Spencer Creek Bridge. 

With over 257 sites, this is one of the largest campgrounds. Luckily, the giant, wind-sculpted trees give the sites some privacy. The sites include 53 full hookup RV sites, 75 electrical sites, 128 tent sites, and 21 rustic yurts. The campground also has a hiker/biker camp to cater to individuals exploring the Oregon coast on foot or bike. 

Beverly Beach State Park Campground has most of the necessary camping amenities like hot showers, running water, and flush toilets. Other great add-ons include a children’s playground, a picnic area, and a group meeting hall. You can buy souvenirs and firewood from the Visitors Information Center. 

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: Standard sites- $35/night; Full hookup RV sites $37/night; Tent sites $23/night; Hiker/biker camp $8/person; Yurts $52-$62/night; Hike/bike camp $8/person 

Devils Lake Campground

It’s hard not to love setting camp in Devils Lake Campground in Lincoln City. It is one of the best Oregon coast campgrounds, the only campground in a city along the coast. And despite its seemingly odd location, this campground offers a great escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. 

Its location between a lake and the Pacific means you’ll rarely run out of things to do here. With downtown Lincoln City a few minutes away, there’s no stress of leaving out on something important. Feel free to bring the entire family. 

There are 54 camping sites at Devils Lake Campground in Lincoln City, Oregon. The year-round camping ground offers full hookup RV sites, electrical sites, tents-only sites, yurts, and a hiker/biker camping area. All guests have access to flush toilets and hot showers. 

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: roughly $7 to $60

Nehalem Bay State Park Campground

Nehalem Bay is a large, quiet, beautiful state park campground set on a four-mile sandspit between the bay and the ocean.

This is among the best beach camping Oregon campgrounds in the northern corner and a great location for exploring the coastal city of Manzanita. Nehalem, an idyllic riverside town famous for its collection of antique stores, is also worth checking out. 

Nehalem Bay State Park Campground has 265 sites with electricity and water hookups for tents, trailers, and RVs. The campground also has 18 yurts, 17 hiker/biker campsites, and an equestrian camp. The sites have a table, fire ring, and grill. Campground amenities include potable water, hot showers, flush toilets, and a 2400-foot airstrip for fly-in campers. 

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: standard sites $31/night; Yurts $47-$57/night; hiker/biker sites $8/person; equestrian campsites $21; fly-in sites $11

Tillicum Beach Campground 

Tillicum Beach Campground is one of the best Oregon Coast state parks camping spots for many reasons. But the major draw is its location right on the beach. This is a great central Oregon campground if you want to relax and fall asleep to real white noise ocean waves and wake up to breathtaking views of the Pacific. 

Swimming, fishing, surfing, beachcombing, hiking, biking, and picnicking are popular outdoor activities at this campground. Sunsets are gorgeous and free. Don’t miss them. 

Tillicum Beach Campground is located 6.5 miles south of Bayshore along Highway 101. It has 60 single-family campsites. Some of these have beachfront views but no water or electricity hookups. Around eighteen sites have electricity and water hookups but no ocean views.

All sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. The campground has flush toilets, drinking water, and firewood for sale. Unfortunately, there are no showers. 

• Open: Year-round
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Fees: sites without hookups $28, $36 for sites with hookups 

Reservations

Reservations are optional when camping along the Oregon coast but are highly recommended because the campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during summer and spring.

Most Oregon coast campgrounds have first-come, first-served sites. But you can also reserve a camping spot up to six months in advance. 

Campgrounds on the Oregon coast now allow same-day reservations for open sites. New sites are announced online at 6 AM daily, with an $8 reservation fee per site. 

What to Do When Camping Along the Oregon Coast

Camping on the Oregon coast is offered in different styles. Choose a spot near the beach, at the base of a mountain, or inside a dense forest. Wherever you choose to set camp, sleeping out under the stars is just one of the many things you can do on the Oregon coast. 

Enjoy swimming, beachcombing, surfing, whale watching, and boating on some of the most irresistible beaches on the Oregon coast:

• Cannon Beach
• Nehalem Bay
• Seaside Beach
• Rockaway Beach
• Fort Stevens
• Cape Kiwanda
• Cobble Beach
• Beverly Beach
• Sunset Bay Beach

Or get ready to tackle some of the most iconic hiking trails in Beaver State, including Cape Lookout near Tillamook (easy), Cascade Head near Lincoln City (moderate), and Cape Falcon near Manzanita (easy).

RV or tent camping on the Oregon coast also brings you closer to charming coastal towns that you can’t help but love. Here are some that you shouldn’t miss:

• Cannon Beach
• Astoria
• Depoe Bay
• Seaside
• Pacific City
• Coos Bay
• Florence 
• Manzanita
• Tillamook Bay
• Newport

Tips for Camping on the Oregon Coast 

Preparation is key to creating memorable Oregon coast camping experiences. If this is your first time setting camp near the beach, here are some useful tips to help you have the most fun! 

• Dispersed camping is allowed in some Oregon coast campgrounds. However, it’s advisable for beginners and families with kids to stick to established campgrounds that provide common camping necessities like potable water, showers, and flushing toilets. 
• Reserve your camping site. Oregon coast camping state parks often fill quickly, especially during summer and spring. Reserve your spot to avoid a disappointed drive back home. 
• Regarding what to wear when camping on the Oregon coast, the trick is to dress for the weather. Bring some lighter and cooler clothes for summer camping. Camping in the colder months requires layers and warmer and thicker items. 
• A well-stocked first aid kit is another must-have in your Oregon coast camping checklist. It helps prevent small scratches and bruises from becoming bigger problems. Use our downloadable first aid checklist to ensure you include all the items you need for the great outdoors.
• While bears are not so common along the Oregon coast, it’s best practice for campers to carry camping food storage canisters just in case. 

Final Thoughts 

With forests, mountains, and sand dunes hugging the ocean, Oregon beach camping vacations are always rejuvenating, no matter the season!

Nature lovers and adventurers flock here, drawn by the scenery, wildlife, and history. For relaxation seekers, it’s the experience of being lulled to sleep by the sound of the crashing waves underneath a billion stars.

Whatever brings you here, we hope this camping on the Oregon coast guide comes in handy! 

Featured image by: Estivillml.